Houses of the Oireachtas International Congress of Parliamentary Women’s Caucuses Monday 10th September 2018, Dublin Castle Tithe an Oireachtais Teach Laighean Sráid Chill Dara Baile Átha Cliath 2 D02 XR20 www.oireachtas.ie www.oireachtas.ie/womenscaucus Guthán: +353 (0)1 6183000 nó 076 1001700 Twitter: @OireachtasNews Déan ceangal linn Íoslódáil an Aip #ICPWC18 Welcome from Seán Ó Fearghaíl T.D., Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann As the Speaker of On that note I want to pay tribute to Dáil Éireann, Ireland’s the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, a new lower house of force in Irish politics that did so much in parliament, it is my pleasure and privilege recent months to transform this Dublin to welcome you to the inaugural Castle gathering from dream to reality. International Congress of Parliamentary Under its Chairperson, Catherine Martin Women’s Caucuses at Dublin Castle. T.D., the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus has forged a persuasive all-party voice on This first-of-its-kind event brings together policy matters of particular importance to female politicians from more than 45 Irish women. They are playing a leadership parliaments and assemblies globally. role in organising initiatives such as this Our aim in hosting this International International Congress to build socio- Congress is to empower delegates, when political alliances that will advance the you return home, to advance the cause goal of gender equality across the globe. of promoting women as agents of change, from the grass roots of political I sincerely hope today’s discussions movements to the pinnacle of power. afford you the opportunity to build solidarity with new friends and allies, Our International Congress takes place gain inspiration from fresh ideas and at a significant moment in the history of approaches, and identify achievable Ireland, on the 100th anniversary year of goals for promoting the strongest possible women gaining the right to vote. Over the role for women in the heart of democratic past century of dynamic change, women systems worldwide. have attained many – but not all – of Ireland’s highest positions of leadership. It is widely accepted that much work Seán Ó Fearghaíl T.D. remains to lower barriers to participation Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann and increase equity of opportunity. Introduction from Catherine Martin T.D., Chairperson of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Fáilte chuig Caisleán British politics from Margaret Thatcher Bhaile Átha Cliath! to Theresa May. Ireland’s Prime Minister, Taoiseach Welcome to Dublin Castle and to the Leo Varadkar, also will address the inaugural meeting of the International International Congress on the changing Congress of Parliamentary Women’s role of women in Irish political life. Caucuses, an event that bears testimony Acclaimed scholar Mary Beard, Professor to the growth of female leadership of classics at Cambridge University, will in parliaments, legislatures and explore how women have shaped society assemblies across the world. and political decision-making from Roman I hope today’s discussions and networking antiquity to the modern day. opportunities will help us all to identify In the afternoon, a panel of international positive steps and strategies to further lawmakers and analysts moderated by Irish the cause of promoting women’s author and columnist Martina Devlin will involvement in politics. try to imagine how women’s involvement in Delegates have converged on Dublin politics and government might develop Castle from throughout Europe and from over the coming century to 2118. Asia and Africa, the Americas, Australia This dialogue, fed by parallel discussion and New Zealand. All of us undoubtedly and debate in policy breakout sessions, have our own stories to tell about the should allow Congress leaders to draft state of gender inequality in political life and submit for delegate approval a Dublin from wherever we come. This International Declaration defining the stepping stones Congress is focused on hearing those for achieving gender equality in stories and finding ways to challenge democratic institutions worldwide. that narrative on a global scale. This is a vision of hope and ambition. To give us perspective and to stimulate The International Congress is the ideal innovative thinking, we have assembled platform for crafting this vision into a range of leaders, commentators and a credible blueprint with specified experts who can help identify the special milestones for progress and target qualities that women bring to politics dates for achievement. I look forward today and inspire us to articulate what to hearing your views and forging an women’s role in democratic life might enduring alliance of Women’s look like a century from now. Parliamentary Caucuses with a Our keynote speaker this morning is strong, united voice for progress. British Labour Party politician Harriet Le gach deá-ghuí, Harman, who held senior Cabinet posts in the Blair and Brown administrations and led Labour and the Opposition twice Catherine Martin T.D., this decade. As Britain’s longest-serving Chairperson of Irish Women’s female MP, serving her south London Parliamentary Caucus constituency since 1982, she brings rare @cathmartingreen perspective to the gender dynamics of International Congress of Parliamentary Women’s Caucuses Monday 10th September 2018 – Hibernia Conference Centre, Dublin Castle 08.00 Registration – Tea/coffee on arrival 09.00 Welcome and Introduction Catherine Martin T.D., Chairperson of the Irish Women’s Parliamentary Caucus 09:15 Key note speech Introduced by, Senator Ivana Bacik ‘Women in Leadership’ Right Honorable Harriet Harman QC MP First Respondent Catherine McGuinness Questions and Answers 10:30 Opening address of Conference, introduced by Catherine Martin T.D. An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar (Prime Minister of Ireland) 11.00 Tea/coffee Break Delegates will have the opportunity to learn about following topics during coffee break, introduced by Deputy Catherine Martin Topic 1: Social Media: Jason Kiernan, Social Media Manager, Houses of the Oireachtas Topic 2: Gender Quotas: Fiona Buckley, Department of Government and Politics, University College Cork Topic 3: ‘Herstory: Lighting up the world in celebration of women & equality’ Melanie Lynch, Founder and Director of Herstory 11:30 Introduced by Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy T.D., Deputy Chairperson of the Irish Women’s Parliamentary Caucus ‘Women in Society & Politics Today’ Speaker: Professor Mary Beard Questions and Answers 12.45 Family Photo 13.00 Lunch – Castle Hall, Dublin Castle 14:15 Panel discussion, introduced by, Fiona O’Loughlin T.D. Our Vision for Women in 2118 Chaired by, Martina Devlin, Journalist and Author Panellists: Orla O’Connor National Women’s Council of Ireland Laura Friedman ASM California State Assembly Stella Creasy MP House of Commons Sinéad Burke Writer and academic Ms Kareen Jabre Inter-Parliamentary Union Honorable Dr. Jessie Kabwila M.P. Malawi Parliament 15.30 Break-out Session 1 – La Touche Room Policy Focused Session ‘Gender Sensitive Parliament’ Barbara Limanowska – European Institute for Gender Equality Break-out Session 2 – Chesterfield Room ‘Deliberative Democracy as a Process’ Ms Justice Mary Laffoy Break-out Session 3 – President’s Room ‘Impact of Caucuses Worldwide’ Ms Kareen Jabre – Inter-Parliamentary Union 16:30 Introduced by Catherine Martin TD Session One Dublin Declaration Women in Politics 2118 Proposals for Action and agreement by Members of the Conference Presented by Claire McGing, academic, Maynooth University Session Two Introduction by Senator Colette Kelleher Contributions and Reflections from the floor 18.00 Closing remarks Catherine Martin T.D., Chairperson of the Irish Women’s Parliamentary Caucus & Irish Caucus Members Members of the Irish Parliamentary Women’s Caucus Working Group Catherine Martin T.D. Marcella Corcoran Kennedy T.D. Chairperson of the Irish Women’s Vice-Chairperson of the Irish Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Parliamentary Caucus Catherine Martin T.D. is the founder Marcella Corcoran Kennedy T.D. is the Vice and current Chair of the Irish Women’s Chairwoman of the Women’s Parliamentary Parliamentary Caucus. She has represented Caucus. She is a former Minister of State for the constituency of Dublin Rathdown as a Health Promotion and the first ever Fine Gael Green Party T.D. in Dáil Éireann since February minister in Offaly. She was elected to Dáil 2016, and is the Green Party’s Deputy Leader Éireann in the 2011 General Election and and Education Spokesperson. With a successfully re-elected in 2016. She is a background as a teacher and a County former Chairwoman of the Joint Oireachtas Councillor, she now serves as a member of the Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and and is currently a member of the Future of Skills and the Committee on the Future of Mental Health Committee; Agriculture, Food Mental Healthcare. and the Marine Committee; and the Climate Action Committee. Fiona O’Loughlin T.D. Senator Ivana Bacik Fiona O’Loughlin T.D. is the Fianna Fáil Senator Bacik is the Reid Professor of Spokesperson on Equality, Immigration and Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology at Integration and the Chairperson of the Joint Trinity College Dublin (previously held by Mary Oireachtas Education and Skills Committee. Robinson and President Mary McAleese). She With a background in education (as a teacher), is a qualified Barrister, and a Senior Lecturer Local Government (member of Kildare County and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin (elected in Council and Newbridge Town Council) and 2005). She was elected to Seanad Éireann for Special Olympics (2003 World Summer Games the first time in 2007, re-elected in 2011, and and subsequently as an advocate for people most recently in 2016. She is also Chair of the with intellectual disability across Europe), Vótáil 100 Committee, the Committee that Fiona has had diverse experiences which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the inform and support her work as a member of parliamentary vote for women in Ireland in Dáil Éireann since she was elected in 2016.